The Bulgarian Football Union
(BFU) has asked the state prosecutor and the Interior Ministry
to investigate allegations of match-fixing involving several
top-flight games last week.

Local media reported there were unusual betting patterns
before a number of matches, including Vihren's 4-1 win over
Belasitsa Petrich on Friday and relegation-threatened Spartak
Varna's 2-1 win at Slavia Sofia on Saturday.

Some club officials were quoted by media as saying they
"knew the outcome of some games before they even started".

"The BFU's ethic commission discussed the media reports
pointing to foul play in some first division matches," the BFU
said in a statement on Thursday.

"The BFU sent a letter to the state prosecutor and to the
Interior Ministry, asking for assistance."

The Balkan country's championship has been marred by
frequent accusations of bias among match officials with Levski
Sofia's owner Todor Batkov saying last year there had been match
manipulation and illegal betting in recent seasons.